| Buying a fly rod can be easy. Doing it right | | | | won’t stand behind its product? |
| takes some doing. Here are seven rules of | | | | |
| buying right the first time. | | | | 4) Buy the best you can afford. The price |
| | | | difference between a good rod and a |
| 1) There is no “all condition | | | | not-so-good rod is usually small. If you |
| rod,” just as there is no “one | | | | can’t afford a good rod—wait |
| size fits all.” When selecting a rod, | | | | until you can. |
| buy one that will serve the purpose you will | | | | |
| mostly likely and most often use it for. If | | | | 5) Trust name brands. Well-known |
| you will fish small streams most of the time, | | | | manufacturers put their name on their |
| and only fish lakes occasionally, opt for a | | | | equipment and will generally avoid causing |
| small stream rod. You will get the most | | | | themselves harm by producing cheap products. |
| satisfaction out of it the majority of the | | | | |
| time. | | | | 6) Buy the blank, not the fittings. The blank |
| | | | is what makes the rod what it is, the |
| 2) Choose one that fits your needs, not | | | | fittings just add to it. While nice fittings |
| someone else’s. Regardless of who says | | | | are, well—nice, they don’t truly |
| what about a rod, select one for you, not one | | | | contribute anything to the action and life of |
| some celebrity, friend or salesman thinks you | | | | a rod. Don’t be confused by shiny |
| should have. If it doesn’t suit you, it | | | | objects. |
| will be nothing but trouble and you will be | | | | |
| unhappy with it. | | | | 7) Cost does not equal value. There are |
| | | | plenty of affordable rods on the market that |
| 3) Buy only rods that have long or lifetime | | | | will suit the average angler’s needs. |
| warrantees. Unwarranted rods will cost more | | | | |
| in the long run because you will have to buy | | | | In a nutshell: Opt for a name brand, |
| new when you eventually break it. | | | | warranted rod that suits most your needs and |
| Additionally—why trust a rod maker that | | | | you can’t go wrong. |